PRAYERS OVER THE PEOPLE The following prayers may be used, at the discretion of the Priest, at the end of the celebration of Mass, or of a Liturgy of the Word, or of the Office, or of the Sacraments. The Deacon or, in his absence, the Priest himself, says the invitation: Bow down for the blessing. Then the Priest, with hands outstretched over the people, says the prayer, with all responding: Amen. After the prayer, the Priest always adds: And may the blessing of almighty God, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, come down on you and remain with you for ever. R. Amen. 1. Be gracious to your people, O Lord, and do not withhold consolation on earth from those you call to strive for heaven. 2. Grant, that the Christian people may understand the truths they profess and love the heavenly liturgy in which they participate. 3. May your people receive your holy blessing, and, by that gift, spurn all that would harm them and obtain what they desire. 4. Turn your people to you with all their heart, for you protect even those who go astray, but when they serve you with undivided heart, you sustain them with still greater care. 5. Graciously enlighten your family, that by holding fast to what is pleasing to you, they may be worthy to accomplish all that is good. 685
686 THE ORDER OF MASS 6. Bestow pardon and peace, upon your faithful, that they may be cleansed from every offense and serve you with untroubled hearts. 7. May your heavenly favor, increase in number the people subject to you and make them always obedient to your commands. 8. Be propitious to your people, O God, that, freed from every evil, they may serve you with all their heart and ever stand firm under your protection. 9. May your family always rejoice together, O God, over the mysteries of redemption they have celebrated, and grant its members the perseverance to attain the effects that flow from them. 10. Lord God, from the abundance of your mercies provide for your servants and ensure their safety, so that, strengthened by your blessings, they may at all times abound in thanksgiving and bless you with unending exultation. 11. Keep your family, we pray, O Lord, in your constant care, so that, under your protection, they may be free from all troubles and by good works show dedication to your name. 12. Purify your faithful, both in body and in mind, so that, feeling the compunction you inspire, they may be able to avoid harmful pleasures and ever feed upon your delights.
PRAYERS OVER THE PEOPLE 687 13. May the effects of your sacred blessing, O Lord, make themselves felt among your faithful, to prepare with spiritual sustenance the minds of all, that they may be strengthened by the power of your love to carry out works of charity. 14. The hearts of your faithful submitted to your name, entreat your help, O Lord, and since without you they can do nothing that is just, grant by your abundant mercy that they may both know what is right and receive all that they need for their good. 15. Hasten to the aid of your faithful people who call upon you, and graciously give strength in their human weakness, so that, being dedicated to you in complete sincerity, they may find gladness in your remedies both now and in the life to come. 16. Look with favor on your family, O Lord, and bestow your endless mercy on those who seek it: and just as without your mercy, they can do nothing truly worthy of you, so through it, may they merit to obey your saving commands. 17. Bestow increase of heavenly grace on your faithful, O Lord; may they praise you with their lips, with their souls, with their lives; and since it is by your gift that we exist, may our whole lives be yours.
688 THE ORDER OF MASS 18. Direct your people, with heavenly instruction, that by avoiding every evil and pursuing all that is good, they may earn not your anger but your unending mercy. 19. Be near to those who call on you, O Lord, and graciously grant your protection to all who place their hope in your mercy, that they may remain faithful in holiness of life and, having enough for their needs in this world, they may be made full heirs of your promise for eternity. 20. Bestow the grace of your kindness upon your supplicant people, O Lord, that, formed by you, their creator, and restored by you, their sustainer, through your constant action they may be saved. 21. May your faithful people, always respond to the promptings of your love and, moved by wholesome compunction, may they do gladly what you command, so as to receive the things you promise. 22. May the weakness of your devoted people stir your compassion, and let their faithful pleading win your mercy, that what they do not presume upon by their merits they may receive by your generous pardon. 23. In defense of your children, stretch forth the right hand of your majesty, so that, obeying your fatherly will, they may have the unfailing protection of your fatherly care.
PRAYERS OVER THE PEOPLE 689 24. Look, O Lord, on the prayers of your family, and grant them the assistance they humbly implore, so that, strengthened by the help they need, they may persevere in confessing your name. 25. Keep your family safe, and grant them the abundance of your mercies, that they may find growth through the teachings and the gifts of heaven. 26. May your faithful people rejoice, we pray, O Lord, to be upheld by your right hand, and, progressing in the Christian life, may they delight in good things both now and in the time to come. On Feasts of Saints 27. May the Christian people exult, O Lord, at the glorification of the illustrious members of your Son s Body, and may they gain a share in the eternal lot of the Saints on whose feast day they reaffirm their devotion to you, rejoicing with them for ever in your glory. 28. Turn the hearts of your people always to you, and, as you give them the help of such great patrons as these, grant also the unfailing help of your protection.